Part-time Postdoc position in Affective Gaming at IT University of Copenhagen (181772)

The IT University of Copenhagen invites highly motivated Candidates to apply for a Postdoc position starting in May 2025 or soon thereafter.

Job description
Affective gaming – gameplay that is influenced by a player's emotional state - is a research domain at the intersection of HCI and affective computing; yet the field has stagnated over the years since its inception back in the early 1980s. In this project, foundational epistemic problems in the field that are contributing to this stagnation will be addressed. The project’s research objectives tackle explicating unclear and hidden assumptions and value sets in this space, and the practical tensions that exist in terms of implementation. The field will be analyzed through both theoretical lens, moving to a practical implementation of affective games.

In the context of this position, we seek candidates who have deep interests and experience in the design, empirical study, and theory of affective games. The ideal candidate has a solid background in affective gaming, having designed and developed at least 3 affective game prototypes. To be considered, candidates should have relevant knowledge in at least two areas relevant to the project:

• Affective Games
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Games User Research
• Design Theory

The position is part-time at 50% and funded until 31 December 2027. The postdoc will receive mentorship and support in clarifying their career goals and developing their profile in the relevant areas. Besides adding to their portfolio of top-tier publications, the postdoc will build up their international network and collaborative skills and increase their visibility through e.g. organization of an international workshop and/or conference tutorial.

The research environment
The candidate will collaborate with Associate Professor Elisa Mekler (IT University of Copenhagen; Play, Culture, and AI Section). The candidate will be part of the Center for Digital Play (CDP), a hub for interdisciplinary games scholarship.

General information
The IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) is a teaching and research-based tertiary institution concerned with information technology (IT) and the opportunities it offers. The IT University has more than 160 full-time Faculty members. Research and teaching in information technology span all academic activities which involve computers including computer science, information and media sciences, humanities and social sciences, business impact and the commercialization of IT.

About the Center for Digital Play
The Center for Digital Play is an interdisciplinary research unit that develops novel theories and methods for the study of play and games in the 21st Century. From game-trained Artificial Intelligence, to social communities created around videogames, gamification, esports, or game engines as artistic tools, digital play is an intrinsic yet understudied phenomenon in digital societies. The CDPs goal is to define what it means to study of play in digital societies from a multidisciplinary perspective. Its purpose is to develop novel methods and theories needed to deal with novel phenomena, and to be a reference center in the present and future of play and game studies.

Working at the IT University
Located in modern architecture, a 6-minute metro ride from the center of Copenhagen, the IT University offers an informal working environment, a varied everyday life, and a highly motivated, aspirational, skilled, and diverse international faculty, with PhD degrees from 17 different countries. The IT University is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself in wholeheartedly and effectively pursuing an improved gender balance among students and among faculty.

Working in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a solid educational system, a rich cultural life, universal healthcare, good childcare, and well-functioning infrastructure. Copenhagen is among the world’s most livable cities according to the Economist Global Liveability Index. Living and working in Copenhagen will be a good experience for you and your family.

Salary and terms of employment
Appointment and salary will be in accordance with the Ministry of Taxation’s agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and job structure for academic staff at Universities.

Qualification Requirements
The applicant must hold a PhD-degree with research experience in affective gaming with a substantial publication record, for example, publications in top conferences such as CHI, FDG, and CHI PLAY. Preference is given to applicants with a documented ability to attract external research funding.

Application
The application and all other documents ought to be in English and must include:

• [Required] A full CV including name, phone number, e-mail, previous and present employment and academic background, a complete list of publications, information for professional references (names, position, relation to the candidate, contact information)
• [Required] A cover letter discussing the match between this position and your qualifications, your research and career agenda, the direction you would like to take in this project, and your preferred starting date.
• [Required] Documentation of academic degrees (copy of degree certificates etc.)
• [Required] A brief statement listing up to 3 publications or projects, your contributions to them, and the relevance of the corresponding skills and qualifications to this project (up to 1 page).
• [Required] Documentation of pedagogical experience and teaching record within one or more of the teaching areas listed for the position
• [Optional] Reference letters

Applications without the above-mentioned required documents will not be assessed.

The applicant will be accessed according to the Appointment Order from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of 13 March 2012.


The IT University may use shortlisting in connection to the recruitment process. In case of shortlisting, the Chair of the hiring committee selects applicants for assessment in consultation with the hiring committee after the application deadline. All applicants are notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The shortlisting of candidates for assessment is based on the criteria in the job posting.

Further information
Questions about the positions can be directed to Associate Professor, Elisa Mekler, IT University of Copenhagen, [email protected].
Questions related to the application procedure may be directed to HR, [email protected].

Application procedure
You can only apply for this position through our e-recruitment system. Apply by pressing the button "Apply for position" in the job announcement on our website.

Please note that all application material will be destroyed after the assessment.

Application deadline: 25th of february 2025, at 23:59 CET/CEST.

Applications/enclosures received at ITU after the application deadline will not be taken into consideration. If you submit an application, it is your responsibility to ensure that it arrives before the deadline so please allow sufficient time for upload of publications and other documents.

At The IT University of Copenhagen we have an international environment and view diversity as a valuable resource. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive working environment for all our employees and encourage all qualified applicants, regardless of age, gender, religious affiliation, or ethnic background to apply for the position.